Woodpigeon at the Paradiso

Saw the band Woodpigeon tonight at the paradiso in Amsterdam. Went there with a good friend of mine. They played in the small hall. It was a great concert, really astonishing. They were with 6 people on stage, later I heard the drummer couldn't make it. 4 women and 2 guy's. Nice to see them play. There was a good atmosphere and they played beautiful songs. Many new songs actually. I hoped that they would play a lot from their album songbook. Unfortunately they didn't. I listened that album a lot and really like it. Then again the songs from their newest album were also very interesting. It was great to see them live. Made some footage of the concert. Afterwards we saw a few of the bandmembers downstairs. Had a small chat, though I had to go to the toilet and my friend talked to them. He's also a musician. Afterwards we went to the great hall where Tower of Power played. We saw a great energetic band for about 30 minutes. They were already playing. It was nice to see them. A funk band with a lot of saxophones. After the Paradiso we went to a cafe called de Zotte. A belgian beer cafe near Leidseplein. It was a nice cafe. Nice people. Good music.

Van Gogh museum, colours of the night

Last night I went to the Van Gogh museum where there is a new exhibition at the moment called "colours of the night". It was a nice exhibition. Beautiful paintings. They had paintings from all over the world. From Paris, Japan, New york and others. I walked there for more than an hour. It was a while ago that I went there but the newest exhibition is a must see. They even have new opening hours. From thursday until saturday until 10 pm. I saw Starry night, starry night over the Rhone, Potato-eaters. Recollection of Brabant, Country road in Provence by night, End of the day, night (both after millet), landscape at twilight and many others. They also had a few paintings from other artists. I watched them while listening to Sigur ros. There were really beautiful paintings. It wasn't really a big exhibition but it was certainly a nice one. If you haven't been to the Van Gogh before, you can also watch the normal regular exhibition. Always fun to see.

Van Gogh has many paintings and you can see the different periods of his life in it. Everytime he has a different kind of style. Some are painted really fast. Like Starry night, if you see it from a distance it's a cool painting. When you come closer you see many spots which aren't brushed. He painted it real fast. Starry night over the Rhone is totally different, it's nearly glowing. When you look at other paintings some of them are simple but in a way it's extraordinary. I can't tell why I'm so fascinated by his work. Sometimes when I come there I find them boring, other times I can't keep my eyes of the canvas. Everytime I come there another painting catches my attention, which I didn't notice in it's way of meaning or in it's way of painting. Some are psychotic. You understand them when you look at his illness. There is a real difference in style. Some are probably made under influence of absynthe, with beautiful difference of reality, some are made in his psychiatric time. Those are also beautiful, but different. A totally different style. You can see that he missed something. Others have a peace in them with beautiful strokes of colours, others just a few over thick paint. He just had it. He knew what to do. Some are so beautiful... but so fucking simple. Brilliant! Everytime I'm amazed. Because of him we have colour:) I bought some cards.. but they're nothing in comparison with the real paintings. You just have to see them in reality. And if possible.. more than once.

I love Van Gogh

Saw a few movies last week. Benjamin Button, Revolutionary road, Valkyrie and Milk. It were nice movies. Good to watch, though some lasted very long. More than 2 hours. Furthermore did some painting with pastel on a work which is hanging on the wall. It's not gonna be finished for the next few weeks, maybe months. One from 2 by 1 meter. We'll see. On saturday I went to the beach for about an hour. Needed it. It was already getting dark so I couldn't stay long but it was fun. Freezingly cold wind under an upcoming full moon. When I came near the beach I could smell the salty breeze which was nearly a year ago when. I last smelled that. Did a lot of learning the last few weeks. Daily base. Feels good. Upcoming 2 weeks also a lot of learning. Came behind a bit with 2 subjects and have to catch up. Have to study this weekend and than I'm on schedule again. My parents were gone for a small holiday and I didn't learn for three days. Also played guitar hero with a few friends at my place. It was fun.